L.A. Times tussle gets personal

Ex-staffer Martinez sues publicist Mullens

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

Former Los Angeles Times editorial page editor Andres Martinez has filed a lawsuit against his former girlfriend, showbiz publicist Kelly Mullens, stemming from their involvement in a Los Angeles Times opinion section that was to be guest-edited by Imagine Entertainment chief Brian Grazer.

Plans for the Grazer-edited section, originally skedded to run in April 2007, were scuttled shortly before publication when it became widely known at the Times that Martinez was dating Mullens, and that Grazer was a client of the firm where Mullens works, praisery 42 West.

Martinez's suit claims that Mullens reneged on promises she made to him that she would steer clear of any involvement in publicizing Grazer's guest-editing effort. The complaint claims that Mullens informed Martinez that she helped arrange stories by the Associated Press and Reuters on Grazer's guest-editing stint.

The eight-page complaint, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeks unspecified compensation for "damages to (Martinez') professional reputation" and general and compensatory damages. The suit contends that Mullens' actions led to his "constructive discharge" from the Los Angeles Times.

Mullens attorney Blair Berk called the filing part of "pattern of harassment" of Mullens by Martinez since their relationship ended last year. She called Thursday's filing "a meritless and clearly frivolous lawsuit in a sad attempt to retaliate against Ms. Mullens, who earlier this year obtained a restraining order against him because of his unstable behavior, threats, and harassment." Berk said Mullens would "vigorously" defend herself against the suit.

Mullens obtained a temporary restraining order against Martinez, who now works for the D.C.-based New America Foundation think tank, in April from a court in Washington, D.C., but she did not continue with the legal process of making it permanent.

Shan Wu, a D.C.-based attorney for Martinez, said that his client had also considered seeking a restraining order against Mullens. The two eventually reached a written agreement around that time not to pursue any further legal action against each other, Berk and Wu confirmed.

Wu would not elaborate on what prompted Martinez to file suit on Thursday.

In a statement, Martinez said: "Kelly Mullens abused our personal relationship by seeking to profit from my editorial decisions behind my back," and he blamed her for having "forced my resignation from the newspaper."